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Make Nereid Avenue Safe for Pedestrians and Cyclists

The fatal hit-and-run crash that killed Orlando Savino as he crossed Nereid Ave. at the intersection with Richardson Ave. has highlighted the unfavorable conditions that pedestrians and cyclists have to face along this corridor. Nereid Ave currently has virtually no pavement markings. Yet many people walk and bike along this corridor as it is one of the few roads that goes east-west across the Bronx River Parkway and Metro-North tracks in the North Bronx, and it is a crucial link for residents of Woodlawn Heights who need to access the #2 subway, and for residents of Wakefield who need to access the Woodlawn Metro North Station.

NYC Department of Transportation has committed to re-stripe the deficient pavement markings on Nereid Ave during spring 2017. While we truly appreciate this effort, we believe that more improvements are needed, beyond just restriping, to truly keep pedestrians and cyclists safe on a corridor that is notorious for excessive vehicle speeds as well as near constant conflicts between turning vehicles and pedestrians crossing on crosswalks, the same type of situation that proved fatal to Mr. Savino.

We ask you to work with NYC Department of Transportation to consider designating Nereid Avenue as a “Safety Corridor”, where heightened improvements are made. As the road widens from a 2-lane road to 4-lane road, from Byron Ave to Vireo Ave at the Westchester County line, vehicle speeds increase in this stretch. Nereid Ave. turns into McLean Ave. once it crosses into Yonkers, where The City of Yonkers has recently undertaken a number of pedestrian improvements on McLean Avenue. But the Bronx portion of the road remains unfixed and dangerous.

We want complete street improvements on Nereid Ave that include repurposing excess vehicle space into safer crosswalks, dedicated turn lanes and protected bike lanes, along with better signage and signaling.

This petition will be delivered to

City Council Member Andrew Cohen, Bronx Community Board 12

The fatal hit-and-run crash that killed Orlando Savino as he crossed Nereid Ave at the intersection with Richardson Ave on November 17, 2016 has highlighted the unfavorable conditions that pedestrians and cyclists have to face along this corridor. Nereid Ave currently has virtually no pavement markings. Yet many people walk and bike along this corridor as it is one of the few roads that goes east-west across the Bronx River Parkway and Metro-North tracks in the North Bronx, and it is a crucial link for residents of Woodlawn Heights who need to access the #2 subway, and for residents of Wakefield who need to access the Woodlawn Metro North Station.

In response to this recent tragedy, Council Member Andrew Cohen has secured a commitment from NYC DOT to immediately re-stripe the deficient pavement markings on Nereid Ave during spring 2017. While we truly appreciate this effort, we believe that more improvements are needed, beyond just restriping, to truly keep pedestrians and cyclists safe on a corridor that is notorious for excessive vehicle speeds as well as near constant conflicts between turning vehicles and pedestrians crossing on crosswalks, the same type of situation that proved fatal to Mr. Savino.

We are asking you to work with NYC DOT to consider designating Nereid Ave/E 240th St. as a “Safety Corridor” of some type, where heightened improvements are made. The eastern limit of this corridor could be set at Nereid Avenue and Byron Avenue. This is where Nereid Avenue “bends” and the road widens from a 2-lane road to a 4-lane road, and where vehicle speeds typically increase. The western limit of the corridor could be set at E 240th St. and Vireo Ave to reflect the fact that Nereid Avenue essentially converts into McLean Ave in Yonkers, except for one city block that appears to have split jurisdiction between Yonkers and NYC. The result is woefully inadequate pedestrian safety measures. The City of Yonkers has recently undertaken a number of pedestrian improvements on McLean Ave. But the Bronx portion of the street (E 240th St) remains unfixed and dangerous. Help us bring these improvements to our streets.